Chongqing Police Chief Escapes to Beijing Via US Consulate
- 12 years ago
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Now for more on the Chongqing police chief who mysteriously visited the US consulate in Chengdu this week. US authorities have confirmed Wang Lijun did visit the consulate as vice mayor of Chongqing. Ben Hedges speaks to NTD China analyst Heng He for insight on how it may damage the political career for one of Wang's closest allies.
And we now have a screen shot from an electronic ticketing system. It shows that Wang Lijun may have flown to Beijing in the company of several officials. The accompanying names on his ticket include Qiu Jin, a vice minister of state security, Li Wei, a member of the public security committee, and Zhang Zhenhua, another member of the State Security Ministry. This picture was posted on Weibo, and has been circulating since late last night.
On February 8th, the US State Department confirmed that Chongqing deputy mayor and police chief Wang Lijun did visit the US consulate in Chengdu.
According to official reports Wang is on so-called "therapeutic leave" due to over work. Some media speculate that caught in a power struggle within the party, Wang went to the consulate to claim asylum, but was retrieved by Chinese security forces surrounding the area. The US State Department says Wang left of his own accord but will not elaborate any further.
[Victoria Nuland, US State Department Spokesperson]:
"Wang Lijun did request a meeting at the U.S. consulate general in Chengdu earlier this week in his capacity as vice mayor. The meeting was scheduled. Our folks met with him. He did visit the consulate. And he later left the consulate of his own volition. So -- and, you know, obviously, we don't talk about issues having to do with refugee status or asylum, et cetera."
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Now for more on the Chongqing police chief who mysteriously visited the US consulate in Chengdu this week. US authorities have confirmed Wang Lijun did visit the consulate as vice mayor of Chongqing. Ben Hedges speaks to NTD China analyst Heng He for insight on how it may damage the political career for one of Wang's closest allies.
And we now have a screen shot from an electronic ticketing system. It shows that Wang Lijun may have flown to Beijing in the company of several officials. The accompanying names on his ticket include Qiu Jin, a vice minister of state security, Li Wei, a member of the public security committee, and Zhang Zhenhua, another member of the State Security Ministry. This picture was posted on Weibo, and has been circulating since late last night.
On February 8th, the US State Department confirmed that Chongqing deputy mayor and police chief Wang Lijun did visit the US consulate in Chengdu.
According to official reports Wang is on so-called "therapeutic leave" due to over work. Some media speculate that caught in a power struggle within the party, Wang went to the consulate to claim asylum, but was retrieved by Chinese security forces surrounding the area. The US State Department says Wang left of his own accord but will not elaborate any further.
[Victoria Nuland, US State Department Spokesperson]:
"Wang Lijun did request a meeting at the U.S. consulate general in Chengdu earlier this week in his capacity as vice mayor. The meeting was scheduled. Our folks met with him. He did visit the consulate. And he later left the consulate of his own volition. So -- and, you know, obviously, we don't talk about issues having to do with refugee status or asylum, et cetera."